Apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins



March 30, 1943. F. E. A. WALLIN 2,315,174

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GENUINE FROM SPURIOUS coms Filed May 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 30, 1943. F. E. A. WALLIN 2,315,174

' APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GENUINE FROM SPURIOUS COIN S Filed May 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 30, lg

2,315,174 APPARATUS FOR EPARATING GEE OUS COINS Fred E. A}. Wallin, Chicago, 111., assignor to N. Marshall Seeburg Application May 15, 1937, Serial No. 142,743

8 Claims. (Cl. 194-400) This invention relates to apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins, and is particularly applicable to apparatus for separating enuine United States nickels or both United States and Canadian nickels from slugs and tokens manufactured from different metals and alloys.

In Patent No. 2,107,402, issued February 8, 1938, on co-pending application Serial Number 96,412, filed August 17, 1936, by Fred E. A. Wallin, Kurt Johnson and Carl G. Johnson, an apparatus for this purpose has been described and claimed. Such apparatus operates on the thermocouple principle. It is an observed fact that the United States nickel in contact with most other metals constitutes a thermocouple which ves a higher thermo-electric current than does any other common metal, including the metals and alloys of which slugs and tokens are usually made, silver coins, and even coins of pure nickel, such as the Canadian nickel coin.

A coin of pure nickel, such as the Canadian nickel coin, gives a lesser thermo-electrical efiect which is, however, much greater than that of the other metals and alloys mentioned. The apparatus of the present invention can be .ad justed in sensitivity so that it will accept only United States nickels or accept both United States and Canadian nickels.

In accordance with the present invention, my improved apparatus comprises a coin slide of conventional appearance and the disposition of the coin is controlled by an obstructing member which, in turn, is actuated by the thermo-electric current in the case of a genuine coin. In the case of a spurious coin the thermo-electric current is insuflicient to operate the obstructing member, with the result that the coin is not discharged from the slide and may be retrieved by the operator by simply withdrawing the coin slide.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a coin slide embodying my invention, the cabinet wall being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the coin slide.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional plan, the section being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the coin slide in a difierent position. I

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view take on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view, the section being taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. '1 is a wiring diagram.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral I0 designates a cabinet wall in which the coin slide is mounted by means of a mounting plate ll. This mounting plate I l rigidly carries a flat tubular way or guide l2 which extend on both sides of the mounting plate II. The lower plate I3 of the tubular guide l2 serves as a base upon which the coin slide I4 may be moved inwardly and outwardly. The tubular guide l2 comprises an upper plate l5. On the outside of the mounting plate II, the upper plate I5 is cut away as shown in Fig. 1 to provide a recess l6 whereby a coin, such as a nickel, may be placed into an opening H in the coin slide it when the slide is in its retracted position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The upper plate lb of the tubular guide i2 terminate on the inner side of the mounting plate ii short of the lower plate l3, as indicated at iii. The upper plate I5 and base plate H! are, of course, connected by short vertical side walls l9.

The coin slide 14 is turned upwardly at its outer end to provide a handle 20 whereby it may be pushed inwardly and pulled outwardly in the tubular guide I2. On its under side the coin slide it carries a projection 2| which rides in a longitudinal guide 22 in the base plate 83 of the tubular guide !2. When the coin slide M is pulled outwardly to the maximum, the projection 2i engages a plate 23 mounted on the inside of the mounting plate I I so as to terminate the outward movement of the coin slide M. The inward movement of the coin slide [4 is terminated by the engagement of its irmer end with an abutment 24 which may suitably be a boss carried near the inner end of the base plate 13. Incidentally, the boss or abutment 24 receives a bolt 25, whereby a horseshoe magnet 25 may be mounted with its poles at the position of the coin opening I! when the coin slide I 4 is pushed inwardly to the greatest extent. or course the magnet may be mounted in any other desired way. The'magnet 26 may be located in the same plane as the plate I5; that is, it is located so close to the coin slide it that a magnetic slug is not elevated out of the opening I! but remains therein so that it may be removed by pulling out the coin slide it. The magnet 26 may be omitted if desired and it may be replaced by a nonmagnetic member which merely serves the function of preventing the coin or slug from moving upwardly out of the coin slide M. The magnet 26 may be used to prevent a Canadian nickel, for example, from falling downwardly out of the coin slide l4. However, it is to be noted that in the case of a Canadian nickel the thermo-electric couple produced is smaller than that produced by a United States nickel and the relay, which will hereinafter be more fully described, may be. sensitive enough so that it is actuated by the thermo-electric current from an American nickel and is not operated by the thermo-electric couple current from a Canadian nickel.

The base plate I3 is provided with an opening 21 which is in registry with the opening I! of the coin slide l4, when that slide is forced inwardly to its greatest extent, as shown in Fig. 4;

On the under side of the base plate i3, an obstructing member 28 is pivotally mounted by a screw 29. The forward end of the obstructing member is bent upwardly into the plane of the base plate I3, as best seen in Fig. 5. The base plate I3 is cut out adjacent the opening 21, as shown at 29 so that the upturned end of the obstructing member 28 may move outwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4. The obstructing member 28 is biased by means of a spring 38 so that it tends to move outwardly in this direction. The inward and outward movements of the obstructing member 28 are limited by a pin 3| which extends upwardly ment at the right hand end in a vertical direction. The movement of the' armature is limited by means of a screw 31 which extends through an opening in the armature. The armature 34 is upwardly biased by means of a spring 38 which extends from a projection 39 on the armature to a bracket 40 which is rigidly mounted on the left hand side of the core 36, as viewed in Fig. 6. It will readily be understood that when the magnet 35 is energized the flux generated in the core 36 causes the armature 34 to move downwardly. When the armature 34 is in its uppermost position the detent 33 is in a position to maintain the obstructing member 28 in coin obstructing position. When the electromagnet 35 is energized the armature 34 is drawn downwardly against the tension of the spring 38 and the spring 30 snaps the obstructing member 28 outwardly so that the coin may drop through the opening 21. It is'to be noted thatthe effective portion of the obstructing member 28 is located at one side of the opening 21. On the opposite side of the opening 21 is provided a stationary support 'member 4|. If a spurious coin is inserted on a suitable core, .for example, a small porcelain tube 41. The disk of insulation 43 is resiliently supported by means oi. metal spring members 48 which are mounted on the upper side.

of the plate I5 so that it resiliently forces the contact 42 downwardly into engagement with a coin introduced into alignment with the opening 2'|.- It is to be noted that the contact 42 and the sleeve 45 are insulated from the spring members 48 and that the winding 46 is insulated from the sleeve 45. The ends of the winding 46 are connected to conductors 49 and 50. The sleeve 45 is connectedto a conductor 5|, and a conductor 52 is connected to the tubular guide l2. The conductors 50, 5|, 48 and 52 are suitably anchored to a strip of insulation 53 which is rigidly mounted on the upper side of the tubular guide l2.

These conductors, together with two conductors as viewed in Fig. 6, and having a limited moveed by means of the coin slide l4, that coin will adapted to engage a coin which is brought into position over the opening 21. This contact-may be of silver or anyother suitable metal, and it is preferably in the form of a plug having a .coned point. The contact 42 is rigidly mounted on a disk 43 of insulating material, audit upper end is suitably riveted downwardly against a flange 44 or extension of a copper sleeve 45. The sleeve 45 surrounds a winding 46 which is mount- 54 and 55, merge into a single cable 56 for connection to other parts of the apparatus, as will hereinafter be more fully described. The conductors 54 and 55 are connected to the winding of the electromagnet 35.

The remainder of the apparatus includes a sensitive relay 5'! which is subjected to the thermoelectric current produced by the engagement of the heated contact 42 with the coin. When the thermo-electric current is suiliciently large; that is, when it is created by the engagement of the contact 42 with a genuine coin, which may be a United States nickel, or either a United States or a Canadian nickel, depending upon the setting of the relay 51, the electromagnet 35 is energized by power current supplied by conductors 58 and 59. This will be best understood with reference to Fig. 7 which is a wiring diagram showing a suitable apparatus whereby direct current or alternating current may be supplied by the I conductors 58 and 59. It may here be noted that the genuine coin which is allowed to fall by the actuation of the obstructingmember 28 is received by a chute 68, and that it may be adapted to close a switch 6| or perform some other act which releases a coin actuated mechanism.

The pin 3|, previously referred to, extends up wardly through the slot 82 in the base plate l3 into the path of the coin slide II. Th inner end of the coin slide is provided with'a slot or opening 88. One side of the'opening 88 is provided with a cam formation 88 which is adapted to engage the pin 3|. The operation of the cam 88 will be best understood with reference to Fig. 3. When a coin is placed in the opening I! of the coin slide I4, the obstructing member 28 is normally set in coin obstructing position, being held in that position by means of the detent 33. When thecoin slide I4 is moved inwardly the cam 88 contacts the pin 3|. electromagnet 35 is energized, the detent 33 is drawn downwardly and the obstructing member 28 moves outwardly into the position shown in Fig. 4 so that the coin may drop into the chute 68. Consequently the pin 3| moves into the recess 98 on the front side of the can? 83, as best shown in Fig. 4. When the coin slide I4 is again withdrawn, as is necessary for its operstiorrftlie'cam obstructing member 28 moves inwardly to clear the detent 33.

It the coin is genuine the The power lines 58 and 59 are connected by the conductors 49 and 50 to the heating coil 45. The power line 58 is connected to the pole 62 of the double pole double throw switch 83. The power line 59 is connected to one end of the primary winding 54 of a stepdown transformer 85. The other end of this primary winding is connected by conductor 68 to a contact 61 adapted to be engaged by the pole 82 when the switch 53 is set foralternating current operation. The power line 59 is connected by a conductor 68 to a high resistanceiotentiometer winding 68 which may have a high resistance,for example around 4,000 ohms. The other end of the winding 89 is connected by conductor I to contacts -'II and I2 which are adapted to be engaged by the pole 82 and the pole I3, respectively, of the double pole qdouble throw switch 63 when that switch is set for direct current operation. When the switch 63 is set for alternating current operation the pole I3 engages a terminal I4 which is connected by a conductor I5 to the terminal I4 of a rectifying system which will now be described.

This rectifying system comprises the secondary winding I5 of the transformer 65. Each end of the winding I5 is connected to the terminal I4 through a rectifier 15 which may suitably be of the copper oxide type. The terminal I4 is also connected through a condenser TI to a conductor I8 which is connected to a metal tap on the winding I5 The conductor 18 is connected by a conductor I9 to the conductor 5l which is connected to the heated contact 42 and also to one of the terminals 80 of the relay 51. The conductors I8 and 5| are also connected to a contact 8| which engages the potentiometer winding 59 so as to take therefrom a certain small voltage for the operation of the electromagnet 35. The contact 80 of the relay 51 is connected to one end of the moving coil 82 and to a moving contact 83 which is adapted to engage an adjustable stationary contact 84. The contact 84 is connected to a terminal 85 which is connected by the line 55 to one end of the winding of the electromagnet 35., The other end of the winding 82 is connected to a terminal 86 'to which the conductor 52 is attached. The winding of the electromagnet 35 is shunted by a low inductive resistor 81 which may, for example, have a resistance of around 2,000 ohms. This resistor is connected to the conductors 54 and 55. The conductor 54 is connected to the pole I3 of the double pole double throw switch 83.

The operation of the device is as follows: The current passing through the winding 46 heats the contact 42 to a relatively high temperature which, for example, may be around 300 F.. so as to insure a substantial thermo-electric current when the contact engages a genuine coin which is brought into alignment with the opening 21 in the base plate l3 by the coin slide l4. If the conductors 58 and 59 ar connected to alternating current supply, the switch 83 is thrown in the upward direction so as to bring its poles 62 and I3 into contact with the' contacts 81 and I4, respectively. When a genuine coin is engaged by the heated contact 42, a thermo-electric current passes through conductor 5|, conductor I9, coil 82 and conductor 52. In the case of practically all metals and alloys from which slugs and spurious coins aremade this current is insuflicient to move the coil 82 so as to bring the contact 88 into engagement with the contact 84. In the case or a United States nickel, the electric current is. quite substantial, and the contacts 83 and 84 are brought into engagement. In the case of a Canadian nickel, the current is substantial but not quite as large as that obtained with a United States nickel. The contact 84 may be adjusted so as t3 ha-engaged by the contact 83 only when a United States nickel is brought into engagement with the contact 42, or it may be adjusted so as to engage the contact 83 when either a United States or Canadian nickel isintroduced by the 10 coin slide l4. In the case of a spurious coin, or a coin for which the device is set not to operate, that is, if the contacts 83 and 84 do not come into engagement, the obstructing member 28 is not actuated and the coin does not fall through the opening 21. Consequentlsuit does not fall down the chute 50, but, on the contrary, remains in the opening H in the coin slide l4 so that it may be withdrawn and retrieved by the operator. In case a genuine coin is introduced, the thermo electric current, is sufiicient to bring the contacts 83 and 84 into engagement. Consequently, a circult is completed which includes contacts 83 and 84, conductor 55, electromagnet 35, conductor 54 pole I3, contact I4, conductor I5, the rectifying system which includes the rectifier-s I6, and

conductor I9. This current energizes the electromagnet so that the armature 34 is moved downwardly and the detent 33 is moved away from the obstructed member 28 so that this obstructed .30 member is moved outwardly by the tension of the spring 30. The coin now falls downwardly through the opening 2Iinto the chute 60 and the thermo-electric current is broken so that the contacts 83 and 84 separate. The resistor 8'! pre- 35 vents arcing at these contacts.

In case the conductors 58 and 59 are connected to direct current, the switch 63 must be moved downwardly so as to bring the poles 62 and I3 into engagement with the contacts 'II and 12, re-

40 spectively. This change cuts the transformer 55 out of circuitand thecircuit through the winding of the electromagnet 35 now includes a part of the potentiometer 69 from which it derives the electromotive force necessary for its energization. The heater 48 is connected to the power lines and the thermo-electric circuit is unchanged. When the contacts 83 and 84 engage, a circuit is completed including contact 83, contact 84, conductor 55, electromagnet 35, conductor 54, pole I3, contact I2, conductor I0, and portion of the potentiometer 89 and conductors 8| and I9. The

electromagnet 35 is thus energized and the genuine coin is accepted.

Although the invention has been described in connection with the specific details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except insofar as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, I declare that what I claim is: v

1. Apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins comprising a cabinet, 9, coin slide having a coin receiving pocket whereby a coin may be slid from a coin receiving position outside the cabinet to a coin discharging position inside the cabinet, an obstructing member normally located below the pocket in coin discharging position to prevent discharge of a coin'from the slide, a contact of a, metal dissimilar to that of the genuine coin adapted to engage the coin in said pocket inits coin discharge position, means for heating the contact, means completing a circuit through said contact and coin, and means controlled by the current in said circuit for controlling the movement of the obstructing member to coin releasing position, said slide being adapted to return the coin to the exterior of the cabinet when the obstructing member is not moved to coin releasing position. I

2. Apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins comprising a cabinet, 2. coin slide having a coin receiving pocket whereby a coin may be slid from a coin receiving position outside the cabinet to a coin discharge'position inside the cabinet, an obstructing member, means for retaining said obstructing member below the pocket in the coin discharging position to prevent discharge of a coin from the slide, means biasing the obstructing member towards releasing position, a contact of a metal dissimilar to that of the genuine coin adapted to engage the coin in its coin discharge position, means for heating the contact, means completing a circuit through said contact and coin and means controlled by the current in said circuit for actuating said retaining means to effect release of the coin, and means on the coin slide for resetting the obstructing member.

3. Apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins comprising a cabinet, a coin slide having a coin receiving pocket whereby a coin may be slid from a coin receiving position outside the cabinet to a coin discharge position inside the cabinet, a detent, an obstructing member adapted to be held by said detent below the pocket in the coin discharging position to prevent discharge of a coin from the slide, means biasing said obstructing member away from said position,

a contact of a metal dissimilar to that of the genuine coin adapted to engage the coin in the pocket in its coin discharge position, means for heating the contact, means completing a circuit through said contact and coin, means controlled by the current in the circuit for releasing said detent, and means for resetting the obstructing member.

4. Apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins comprising a cabinet, a coin slide having a coin receiving pocket whereby a coin may be slide from a coin receiving position outside the cabinet to a coin discharge position inside the cabinet, a detent, an obstructing member adapted to be held by said detent below the pocket in the coin discharging position to prevent discharge of a coin from the slide, means biasing said obstructing member away from said position, a contact of a metal dissimilar to that of the genuine coin adapted to engage the coin in the pocket in its coin discharge position, means for heating the contact, means completing a circuit through said contact and coin, means controlled by the current in the circuit for releasing said detent, and means on the slide for resetting the obstructing member when the slide is drawn outwardly.

5. Apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins comprising a coin slide in the form of a plate, a mounting in which the plate is slid able, said plate having a coin receiving pocket movable between a coin receiving position and a coin discharge position, said mounting comprising a base plate provided with a coin discharge opening, an obstructing member adapted to be located to prevent a coin falling from the slide at the coin discharge position, means for locating said obstructing means in said position, means for displacing said obstructing means from said position, detent means normally preventing said displacement, and a circuit including a heated contact of a metal dissimilar to that or a genuine coin adapted to engage the coin in the slide at coin discharge position and produce a current for controlling said detent means.

6. In combination, a coin slide, a tubular housing in which said slide has a limited movement, said slide having a coin receiving pocket adapted to be moved from coin receiving to coin discharge position, said tubular housing having an opening in its under side at the discharge position, a magnet above said pocket in its coin discharge position to prevent a magnetic slug such as would operate the testing mechanism as hereinafter set forth from dropping from the slide, a metal contact of a metal dissimilar to that of the genuine coin adapted to engage a coin in the coin discharge position, means for heating the contact,

means completing a circuit through said coin and contact, an obstructing member at said discharge position adapted to obstruct the passage of a coin from said slide, means for moving said obstructing member into coin-obstructing position, means for moving said obstructing member away from said position, detent means normally preventing last said movement, and electro-magnetic means in said circuit for controlling said detent means.

7. Apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins comprising a cabinet, a coin carriage having a coin-receiving pocket whereby a coin may be transported from a coin-receiving position outside the cabinet to a. coin-discharging position inside the cabinet, 9. coin-engaging member normally located adjacent the pocket in the coin-discharging position to prevent the discharge of a coin from the carriage, a contact of a metal dissimilar to that of the genuine coin adapted to engage the coin in the pocket at its discharge position, means for heating the contact, means completing a circuit through said contact and coin, and means controlled by the current in said circuit for controlling the movement of the coin-engaging member to coin-releasing position, said carriage being adapted to return the coin to the exterior of the cabinet when the coin engaging member is not moved to coin releasing position.

8. In an apparatus for separating genuine from spurious coins comprising a cabinet, in combination, a coin carriage having a coin-receiving pocket whereby a coin may be transported from a coin-receiving position outside the cabinet to a coin-discharging position inside the cabinet, a coin-retaining member normally located below the pocket in the coin-discharging position is prevent the discharge of a coin from the carriage a contact of a metal dissimilar to that of th genuine coin adapted to engage the coin in th pocket in its coin-discharge position, means f0 heating the contact, means completing a circuit through said contact and coin, means controlled by the current in said circuit for controlling the movement of the coin-retaining member to coinreleasing position, said carriage being adapted to return the coin to the exterior of the cabinet when the coin-retaining member is not moved to coin-releasing position, and means for biasing the coin-retaining member to coin-releasing posilOl'i.

FRED E. A. WALLIN. 

